Back and arm rest



W. P. WACHSMAN BACK AND ARM REST April 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 6, 1962 INVENTOR. /W/LL/AM R 'I I ACI-ISMAN av H/S ATTO/QA/EK? HARE/5, K/EcH, RussELL 5; KERN APril 1965 w. P. WACHSMAN 3,178,733

BACK AND ARM REST Filed Nov. 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2. /0

FIG. 4. /0 56 20 i 57 HAee/s, K/EcH, RUSSELL 6:KR/v

United States Patent ()fltice Patented Apr. 20, 1965 3,178,733 BACK AND ARM REST William P. Wachsman, 9053 Rosewood Ave, Los Angeles 48, Calif. Filed Nov. 6, 1962, Ser. ilo. 235,654 8 Claims. (Cl. 5-327) My invention relates to bodily supports, and more particularly to a collapsible back and arm rest for use in conjunction with a bed or the like.

Prior supports have included merely a back support or and adjustably inclined back support with fixed arm rests and with no provisions for vertical adjustment of the support structure.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a back and arm rest adapted to be used on a bed wherein the back support is vertically adjustable and removable secured relative to the bed and the back and arm rest are collapsible. Another object of my invention is to provide a back and arm rest wherein the back support is movable from a position substantially normal to the bed surface to a position inclined at an oblique angle with respect thereto and wherein the arm support is movable from a position substantially normal to the bed surface to a position substantially parallel thereto.

A further object of my invention is to provide a back and arm rest adapted to be used on a bed wherein the back and arm rest is releasably mounted on the bed at the headboard thereof and between the mattress and headboard thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a back and arm rest for a bed adapted to be removably mounted on headboards of varying heights and varying thicknesses.

A'still further object of my invention is to provide a back and arm rest for use on a bed wherein the back and arm rest is completely collapsible for folding against the headboard of such bed.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a back and arm rest for use on a bed wherein an open space is provided between the arm supports and the bed surface within which bedding such as blankets and the like can be pulled up around the body of the user.

A further object of my invention is to provide a back and arm rest for use on a bed wherein the back rest or support may be moved into an inclined position relative to the bed surface independently of any movement of the arm supports or such back support may be moved con junctively with and in response to the movement of the arm supports.

- Another object of my invention is to provide a back and arm rest for use on a bed including a rigid supporting frame adapted to be releasably mounted on the bed, a back support pivotally secured to the frame, an arm support means pivotally secured to the frame, means for pivotally moving the back support and the arm support means into inclined positions relative to the frame, and means for positioning the arm support means above the bed surface.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a back and arm rest for use on a bed including a rigid supporting frame adapted to be removably secured to a bed, a back support pivotally sec red to the frame and providing an arm support receiving means, an arm support means pivotally secured to the frame between the frame and the back support and adapted to be pivotally moved to a position within the receiving means of the back suppor, and means for pivotally moving the arm support means in a direction to engage the back support and move the back support about the pivot point thereof into an inclined position relative to the frame, the movement of the arm support means being restricted by its engagement with the receiving means of the back sup port after limited pivotal movement of such arm support means.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiments described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in a collapsed or folded position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in a collapsed or folded position;

FIG. 4 is a back elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in a collapsed or folded position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. '7 is a perspective View of an alternative embodiment of a means for mounting the instant device on a bed or the like.

In the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 4 exhibit a back and arm rest ll removably mounted on a headboard 12 of a bed 14. The back and arm rest it) includes a rigid block A-shaped frame 16 comprising a pair of parallel vertical supports 13, a top horizontal support Zii, and an intermediate horizontal support 22. Located in each of the vertical supports 18 and along the vertical axis thereof is a series of holes 24, each hole 24 being horizontally commensurate with the corresponding hole in the adjacent vertical support Adapted to be received in the holes 24 is a mounting bracket 26.

The mounting bracket 26 may be comprised of slightly flexible metal and includes a bottom horizontal rod 28 having a pair of flexible cylindrical cushion members 39 axially mounted thereon and made of rubber or the like, a pair of upwardly extending rods 32 having forwardly extending upper ends 34 directed at angles slightly acute or slightly less than 90 from the rods 32, a pair of irregularly shaped fastening rods 36 (FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawing) detachably secured to the upper ends 34 each having a first horizontal section 38, a first vertical section ll} extending parallel to the frame 16, a second horizontal section 42, and a second vertical section 44, such sections 42 and 44 having diameters less than the diameter of the holes 24 and being receivable within the holes 24 in the supports 18, and a connecting sleeve 46 for detachably connecting the first horizontal section 38 of the fastening rods 36 and the upper ends 34, said sleeve comprising an inner rigid cylinder 48 having an inner diameter of a dimension suitable for axially receiving the upper ends 34 and the first horizontal sections 38 of the fastening rods 36 in frictional engagement and an outer flexible cylinder 59 made of rubber or the like which serves as a nonabrasive cushion.

Secured to the rear side and on the exterior of the vertical supports 18 is a fibrous cushion material 52 provided as a means of preventing such supports from scratching the headboard of a bed when so mounted thereon. On the frontside of the supports 18 a suitable finished cover material 53 is provided. The lower ends of the vertical supports 18 extending below the intermediate horizontal support 22 are designated by the numeral :34 and constitute an additional securing or stabilizing means. The lower ends 54 fit between the headboard 12 of a bed 14 and the mattress 55 thereof (see FIG. 3 of the drawing), Such jl'ower ends 54 provide securing holes,

57 adapted to receive screws orthe like in the eyentthe L back and armrest 1 is permanently secured to a headboard 12 or to (see infra).

Pivotally attached to the an alternative type of mounting means T-shape configuration is provided by a pair of laterally extending'shoulders 53 located at the bottom portion or the back support 56. The pivotalattachmentbetween the rigid frame 16. and'theback support 56 comprises an upper hinge member 60 s'ecured to thextop horizontal support 20 of the frame 16 and the upper portion of the fiat rear side 62 of the back support 56. 1 Thus. the back support 56, being pivotal near the top thereof, canbe rigid frame '16 is aflat back support 56 having an inverted T-shape.f;The inverted;

' ;mounting bracket 26 which board ofa bed.

is adapted to fit over the head- Additionally, the back and arm rest 10 is adapted to be adjustably mounted on headboards of varying thicknesses. Since the fastening rods 36 and the upper ends 34 of the fmounting bracket 26 are releasably connected by the cylindrical sleeve 46such'members maybe slidably adjusted moved into an inclined position relative to the vertical frame 16'withits free lowerend extending awayfrom 1 thereof. Being so inclined, theback support 56 is {also inclined atan oblique angle relativeto'the surface .of

the mattress '55. a j a the headboard 12 and forwardly of the upper fixed end Similarly, an arm, support means 64 is pivotallyht-v '5 tached to the'rigid frame '16. The arm' support means 64 includes a pair of arms 66 extending on each side of the back support 56and having approximately the same widthas the laterally extending shoulders 58. :A

longitudinal connecting member 68 is secured between the arms 66 and extends between the support 56' and the frame 16. The pivotal connection is provided by a lower hinge,

member 70 which is secured to the intermediate horizontal support22 of the frame 16 and to the longitudinal conmounting bracket 26 m ay be slidably positioned over the headboard 12 (see-fFICj. 3 of the drawing) by slightly flexing the bracket 26 and positioning it along the back side of the headboard with the headboard positioned be- I tween the mounting bracket 26 and the rigid frame 16.

Thevrigid frame 16 is thus'positioned adjacent and'parallel to the headboard 12 with the lower ends-5 4 of the 1 vertical supports fitting between the mattress55 and the nec'ting member 68; .Thus,,'thef arm support means 64 may be pivotally moved about the hinge member 7% from a position parallel tothe frame 16 to an inclined-position with respect thereto and substantially parallel to. the sur-;

face'ofa'rnattress 55. q j 7 Both theback support 56. and the arm support means 64 may be provided with a suitable finished upholstering 1 71 (see FIG; 3 of the drawing). I

As an alternative embodimentof a cans fonmountdirected flange 74 insertable ,beneaththe mattress-55 of abed 14 and an outer. side wall 76. extending upwardly j from the flange '74 and along the exterior 'of the mattress 55. Connected .between 'the corner brackets 72 is a pair of horizontal mounting members 78 having intermediate the ends thereof spaced vertical mounting-members 80 .headboard ll 'Whenthe' back and arm rest is not in use, for example, when the bed 14is'unoccupied or when the user thereof is, sleeping, the back support 56 and the arm support means 64 may bjepivotally movedto a posi- 1 ;tion parallel to one another and to the rigid frame 16.

'qWhen desiring to make the back and arm rest 10. opera-' itional'thearm supportfmeans 64 maybe pivoted from its vertical alignment, about the lower hinge 70, in a downwardly direction. When pivoting the arm support means a 64 in a downwardlydirection and into-anarm supportmeans 64"the back support 56 is, pivoted forwardly and ing the back and arm rest 10 on a bed'14, FIG. 7 exhibits 'a pair of corner brackets' 72 each. having an inwardly ,ing position the longitudinal connecting member 68 .eni gagesthe rear side 62 of the vertically hanging back support56andpivots same about the upper hinge 60. Thus, in response to; the. pivoting action of the arm support somewhatupwardly. The pivoting action of the arm sup- 7 port "means 64c0nti'nues :until the arms engage the shoulders 58 ofthe" back support 56 At this 'point the longitudinalbonnectingfmembet 68 is extending substantially normal to: the rigid frame, 16.and therefore acts as a means for spacing theback support 56' from therigid frame 16. Meanwhile,2the arms 66, .being, engageable with theshoulders 58, are spaced upwardly from the bed extending upwardly therefrom. 7 Attached to the vertical" mounting members80 by screws 82 or the like secured within the holes 57 are the lower ends 54 0f the rigid frame 16. Thus, an alternative method for mounting a back and arm rest to a bed is provided when no heada board such as illustrated in FIG. 1' of the drawing is provided. a .In actual operation, the back and'arm rest .10 may be mounted on a bed at a desired height by adjusting the mounting bracket 26.;with respect to the holes 24 in he rigid'frame 16. 'Forexample, the fastening rods'36 may be vertically moved in parallel relation and inserted in any one of the pairs of holes 24.. The particular insertion of the rods 36 within the holes 24 maybe accomplished by inclining each rod 36 and placing the second vertical section 44 in each hole 24. Each rod 36may 7 then be-pivoted toward the vertical plane andurged in a direction towardthe frame body 16. As a result of such pivotal motion and the inward pressure the second prevention as defined vertical section 44 passes through" the hole 24 and extends downwardly on the opposing-side of the frame 16. Thus,

the second horizontal section 42 of each rod 36 is positioned within one of the holes 24 in a detachably mounted position. By so adjusting the fastening rods 36 within the holes 24 the back and arm rest 10 may'beverticallyrearranged relative to the headboard of a bed sincev the fastening rods 36 are also. removably secured to the lel tothe frame 16.

surface. Since the shoulders 58 2 176 in the same plane asthe back support 56, the 'arms'66 extendforwardly therefrom, and thus, beddingsuch'asblankets and the like 'may be pulled up vclose tothebodyjof'the user thereof beneath the extending arms 66. w

The back and arm rest 10 may again be folded into a nonoperational position by pivoting the arm support means 64 upwardly and rearwardly from its down position. Thus,vthe longitudinal connecting member 68 will have been removed as a brace forspacing the back support 56 forwardly of therigid frame 16 and the back support 56,'under the force ofgravity, will merely fall back'into its normal vertical alignment adjacent and paral- Although exemplary embodiments of the invention havei beendisclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it 7 will be understood that variousminor changes, modifications and substitutions may belincorporated in such embodiments without departing from the spirit of the inin theclaims which follow;

' I claim: V f

1. In a body supporting means, the combination of: a rigid supporting frame adapted to be removably secured to asitting surface; a back support. means 'pivotally secured at. one end thereof to said frame, having a lateral extension on each side and in the plane thereof, and movable between positions parallel to said frame and inclined relative to said frame,'the

other end of said back support means being positioned adjacent said sitting surface when in said inclined position; and an arm support means pivotally secured at one end thereof to said frame, said arm supsecured to said frame and providing an arm support receiving means therein; and arm support means pivotally secured to said frame and positioned between said frame and said back support means and adapted port means being movable between positions parallel 5 to be pivotally moved to a position within said reto said frame and inclined relative to said frame and ceiving means; and means for pivoting said arm supincluding arms positioned on each side of said back port means in a direction to engage said back supsupport means, a transverse longitudinal member export means and pivot said back support means into tending between the unsecured portion of said back an inclined position relative to said frame, the movesupport and said frame and connecting said arms, 10 ment of said arm support means being restricted by said longitudinal member being pivotally engageable with said back support means to urge said back support means into an inclined position relative to said its engagement with the receiving means of said back support after limited pivotal movement of said arm support means.

frame when said arm support means is pivoted to 6. In a back and arm rest for use on a bed having a said inclined position relative to said frame, such pivheadboard and a mattress, the combination of:

a rigid, vertical supporting frame mountable on said otal movement of said arm support means being limited by the engagement of said arms with the lateral extensions of said back support at a point spaced upwardly from said sitting surface and from said other headboard, having two parallel vertical rows of horizontally commensurate holes near the upper end thereof and a downwardly extending securing means end of said back support means. at the lower end thereof insertable between said head- 2. In a body supporting means, the combination of: board and said mattress located on said bed; a downa vertical, rigid supporting frame having a top and wardly extending mounting bracket adjustably sea bottom and adapted to be removably secured t a cured to said frame including a horizontal rod posibed; a back support means pivotally secured at on tioned in the plane of said frame and spaced from end thereof to the to portion of said frame, having d frame, a pair of verti l rods extending upwarda lateral extension on each side thereof in the plane 1y from ea h nd of Said h riz ntal rod and having of said back support, and pivotally movable between an upper portion extending toward said frame and at a position parallel to said frame and inclined relative ubstantially a right angle to the vertical portion, a to said frame, the other end of said back support pair of cylindrical connecting sleeves having opposing means being positioned adjacent said sitting surface open ends and being slidably engageable with the when in said inclined position; and an ar u ort horizontal upper portions of said vertical rods at one means pivotally secured at one end thereof to said and a P 0f fastening rods having one 611d frame near the bottom of said frame and movable serta'ole within said holes on said rigid, vertical frame between a position parallel to said frame and inclined d t e t r nd slidably re eivable Within the oprelative to said frame and said back support me posing end of said connecting sleeve so as to result said arm support means including arms positioned on in a slidably adlllstablfi attachmflflt bfitween the p each side of said back support means, a transverse per portions of said vertical rods and said fastening longitudinal member extending between the unserods; a back pp means pivotally secured to Said cured portion of said back support means and s id frame and providing an arm support receiving means; frame connecting said arms, said longitudinal mem- 49 an arm support means pivotally secured to said frame ber being pivotally engageabl with id b k supand positioned between said frame and said back support means upon pivotal movement of said arm sup- P 111621115 and adapted to be pivotally moved to a port means toward said inclined position to pivotally Position Within Said receiving means; and means for urge said back support means in a direction toward pivoting Said arm pp means in a direction to its said inclined position relative to said frame, such g Said k Support means and pivot said back pivotal movement of said arm support means being pp into an inclined Position relative to Said limited by the engagement of said arms with the latframe, the movement 0f Said arm PP means eral extensions of said back support means at a point bfiing restricted y its engagement With the receiving spaced upwardly from the bed and fro id th means of said back support after limited pivotal moveend of said back support means. 50 merit of said arm support means.

7. In a body supporting apparatus for a bed having a headboard and mattress, the combination of:

a vertically extending frame mountable on said head- 3. A body supporting means as defined in claim 2 in which the rigid supporting frame includes a means for vertically adjusting such frame relative to the bed on which it is mounted.

4. A body supporting means as defined in claim 3 in which the rigid supporting frame is adapted to be removably mounted on the headboard of a bed and which includes a means for adjustably permitting said frame to be mounted on headboards of varying thicknesses.

5. In a back and arm rest for use on a bed having a headboard and a mattress, the combination of:

a rigid, vertical supporting frame mountable on said headboard, having two parallel vertical rows of horizontally commensurate holes near the upper end thereof and a downwardly extending securing means at the lower end thereof insertable between said headboard and said mattress located on said bed; a downwardly extending mounting bracket adjustably secured to said frame including a fastening means for releasably engaging the holes provided in said frame, and means for spacing said bracket a sutficient distance from said frame to permit the headboard of a bed to fit between said bracket and said frame, said spacing means being adjustable so as to permit such distance to be varied; a back support means pivotally board including a pair of parallel vertical supports, a top horizontal support connected between said vertical supports, and an intermediate horizontal support similarly connected between said vertical supports, each of said vertical supports having a vertical row of holes located adjacent said top horizontal support, each hole being horizontally commensurate with the corresponding hole in said adjacent vertical support; a downwardly extending mounting bracket adjustably secured to said frame including a horizontal rod positioned in the plane of said frame and spaced from said frame, a pair of vertical rods extending upwardly from each end of said horizontal rod and having an upper portion extending toward said frame at an angle slightly less than relative to said vertical portion, a pair of cylindrical connecting sleeves having opposing open ends and being slidably engageable with the horizontal upper portions of said vertical rods at one end, and a pair of fastening rods including a first horizontal section receivable within the opposing end of said connecting sleeve, :1 first vertical section extending downwardly therefrom and board and said mattress located on said bed; a down parallel to said frame, ars'econd horizontal section J ahwe having a diameter less thanthe diameterof oneof said holes in the frameand passing through'one' of said'holes, and a second vertical section having a diameter less than the diameter of one'o'f said holes in the'frame and extending downwa'rdly'fro rn said 7 second horizontal sectionandon'the opposite side of said frame from said first vertical section; an arm f rest pivotally connected to said frameand adapted 5 to be moved between a substantially vertically re tracted position "and a substantially horizontal ex tended position; a back rest pivotally connected to,

said frame and adapted to be moved between a sub-- stantially verticalretracted position and aninclined extended position; actuating means,carried by jone of said tests and cooperating j with'the other of; said rests to move the. latter to,'its said errtended position '1 when the former isemoved from its said retracted position to its said extended position; andlimit means carried by one of said rests for limiting'movement of the otherv ofsaidrestswhen the latter reaches its said extended position. 4 1 11 a j 8. In a back and arm rest for use on a bid having a headboard and a mattress, the combination of a 2 I a rigid, verticaljsupporting frame mountable-on 'said headboard, having two'parallel vertical rows ofthorizontal commensurate holes nearithe upper end there-' 7 of and a downwardly, extending securing meansatthe lower end thereofinsertable betweentsa'idliea d wardly extending mounting bracket adjustablyf'sek cured 'to said frame including a horizontal rod positioned intlie plane of said'frarne' andspaced friom said frame, a pair of vertical rods extending upwardly 7 from each end of said horizontal 'rodand having 'an upper portion extending'toward'said frame and at substantially a right angle to the vertical portion, a pair of cylindrical connecting sleeves having "opposing open ends and being slidably engageablewith the l 1 i "rection to enga'ge saidback support means and pivot i said back support'into an inclined position relative to jhoriz ontal'upper. portions of 'saidver'tical rods at one end, a pair of fastening'rods having one end insertable withintsaid holes onsaidrigid, vertical frame and'the other end slidably receivable within the 0pposing end of said connecting sleeve so as to result 7 V in a slidably adjustable attachment between the upper portions of saidlvertical rods and said fastening rods, and each of said fastening rods including a first "horizontal section receivable'vvithin one end vof said "connecting sleeve, 1a first vertical section extending downwardlyth'erefr'omand parallelto said frame, a second horizontal's ection having-a diameter less'than the diameter o'fone of said holes in the frame and passing through one of said holes, and a second vertical section having a diameter less than the diameter of one of said holes'in the frame and extending down- 'W'ardly fromsaidsecond horizontal section and on 2 said frame and positioned between said frame and saidback'su'pport means and adapted to be "pivotally t moved to, a position within said receiving means; and means for pivoting said arm support means in a disaid frame, the movement of said arm support means ifb'eing-restricted' by its engagement with the receiving rn'eans of said back support after limited 'pivotal movement of said 'a rmsupportrneansr i iReferncsvC ited in t l? file'bf-lhis P 5 NITE sTATEsPeTEN FRANK B: Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A BODY SUPPORTING MEANS, THE COMBINATION OF: A RIGID SUPPORTING FRAME ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY SECURED TO A SITTING SURFACE; A BACK SUPPORT MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID FRAME, HAVING A LATERAL EXTENSION ON EACH SIDE AND IN THE PLANE THEREOF, AND MOVABLE BETWEEN POSITIONS PARALLEL TO SAID FRAME AND INCLINED RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME, THE OTHER END OF SAID BACK SUPPORT MEANS BEING POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID SITTING SURFACE WHEN IN SAID INCLINED POSITION; AND AN ARM SUPPORT MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID FRAME, SAID ARM SUPPORT MEANS BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN POSITIONS PARALLEL TO SAID FRAME AND INCLINED RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME AND INCLUDING ARMS POSITIONED ON EACH SIDE OF SAID BACK SUPPORT MEANS, A TRANSVERSE LONGITUDINAL MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN THE UNSECURED PORTION OF SAID BACK SUPPORT AND SAID FRAME AND CONNECTING SAID ARMS, SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBER BEING PIVOTALLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID BACK SUPPORT MEANS TO URGE SAID BACK SUPPORT MEANS INTO AN INCLINED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME WHEN SAID SUPPORT MEANS IS PIVOTED TO SAID INCLINED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME, SUCH PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM SUPPORT MEANS BEING LIMITED BY THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID ARMS WITH THE LATERAL EXTENSIONS OF SAID BACK SUPPORT AT A POINT SPACED UPWARDLY FROM SAID SITTING SURFACE AND FROM SAID OTHER END OF SAID BACK SUPPORT MEANS. 